Chicago Cubs Minor League Report: Austin Gomber Dominant for Iowa, Pelicans' Playoff Run Comes to an End

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Cubs Affiliate Overview (September 11-12)

Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series at Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates): Tied 2-2
Season Record: 73-68

Double-A Knoxville Smokies
Series at Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays): Smokies Lead 3-1
Season Record: 68-66

High-A South Bend Cubs
2025 Season Record: 56–75

Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Carolina League Division Series at Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals): Fireflies win 2-0
Regular Season Record: 68–60

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs
Season Record: 73–68
Series Opponent: Indianapolis Indians (80–61)
Series Standing: Tied 2-2

Sept. 11: The Iowa Cubs offense exploded for 16 hits to earn a 6-2 victory over the Indianapolis Indians on Thursday night. Carlos Pérez and Hayden Cantrelle each went 3-for-5 with Cantrelle launching a two-run blast, his fourth of the season, in the eighth. Four Cubs batters would post multi-hit efforts with eight of the nine starters recording at least one hit in the contest. Owen Caissie went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and an RBI, and has now hit safely in four of his last six games since rejoining Iowa on Sept. 1. Mike Soroka made his first rehab appearance with the I-Cubs and picked up the win in relief, allowing one run on one hit over 2 1/3 innings, striking out three. Gavin Hollowell earned a multi-inning save by tossing two scoreless frames, retiring all six batters that he faced.

Sept. 12: The I-Cubs were blanked by the Indians, 4-0, on Friday night. Iowa was held to just two hits in the ballgame, with James Triantos (1-for-4) and Chase Strumpf (1-for-2) picking up the knocks. Austin Gomber sparkled again on the mound for the Cubs, picking up a quality start. Gomber allowed just two hits over six innings of work, striking out nine batters without issuing a walk. In his first three starts in the Cubs organization, Gomber has allowed just one earned run in 16 innings (3 GS), whiffing 18 batters while walking just two.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies
Season Record: 68–66
Series Opponent: Montgomery Biscuits (77–59)
Series Standing: Lead 3-1

Sept. 11: The Knoxville Smokies were held to just one hit and four total baserunners as they were blanked, 4-0, by the Montgomery Biscuits. Carter Trice went 1-for-3 to pick up the Smokies’ lone hit of the contest. The Knoxville offense would go 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and leave three on base. Connor Schultz took the loss in the start after allowing three runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings of work, striking out eight batters for the second-straight outing, matching his season high.

Sept. 12: The Smokies clinched at least a .500 season with a 7-1 win over the Biscuits, their eighth victory in the last nine ballgames. Casey Opitz went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a home run and two RBI, while BJ Murray Jr. (1-for-3) also launched a two-run shot and earned a pair of walks. Eight of the nine Knoxville starts recorded at least one hit in the contest with six different players scoring a run. Evan Taylor picked up the win out of the bullpen, working 1 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three.

High-A: South Bend Cubs
2025 Season Record: 56–75

South Bend's season ended on Sept. 7.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Regular Season Record: 68–60
Carolina League Division Series Opponent: Columbia Fireflies (64–65)
Series Standing: Lose 2-0

Sept. 11: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans had their season come to an end with a 2-1 defeat to the Columbia Fireflies on Thursday in Game 2 of the Carolina League Division Series. Kane Kepley and Angel Cepeda each went 2-for-4 in the ballgame while Ty Southisene (1-for-3) drove in the lone run with an RBI-single in the third. Kevin Camacho took the loss in relief despite a solid outing. Camacho allowed two runs on four hits over four innings of work, striking out four. Brayden Spears turned in two perfect frames out of the bullpen to close the game, whiffing three batters.

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